“Blame Mr Forbes.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 8

“Blame Mr Forbes.”

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —Because there has been reckless expenditure in the past on social services as well as on unnecessary roads and railways, there is a senseless tendency now to blame the Government for the general tightening-up in the interests of economy and a squared Budget. Nowhere is the whine louder than from Auckland—which, perhaps, was only to be expected, as Aucklanders have always wailed since New Zealand began. At a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board this week, it was decided to apply the 10 per cent reduction to all salaries and wages. “This is not the board’s doing. It is being done at the dictation of the Minister,” said the chairman (Mr W. Wallace). “ The ernment must take all responsibility.” How fair and just! The Government caused the world-wide depression, is responsible for the low prices of primary produce, and is hand-in-glove with the Soviet and other evil forces. Why not indict Mr Forbes at the bar of the House and make him disgorge the millions needed to bring prosperity round once more?—l am, etc., COMMON SENSE.